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versão On-line ISSN 2078-5135versão impressa ISSN 0256-9574

SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.100 no.9 Cape Town Set. 2010

CORRESPONDENCE

Vuvuzelas: ex Africa semper aliquid novis - again?

To the Editor: The vuvuzela, or lepata (Tswana), or 'stadium horn', has recently become an object of intense interest because of its prominence during the FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Its history has been well documented.1 We all now know what a vuvuzela is. Its monotonous sound, if produced simultaneously by, say, 40 000 soccer enthusiasts, can fill an entire stadium for hours on end, to the intense irritation of players, coaches, non-participating spectators, TV audiences, and many more (for miles around the stadium).

The impact of the vuvuzela on the human ear has recently been studied, and the recreational risk that vuvuzelas pose to spectators in a stadium is significant.2 It may also disseminate droplet-spread infections and be used as a weapon by soccer hooligans; among other things, it has been described as 'an instrument from hell'.1

Despite these negatives, Mr Sepp Blatter felt that 'We should not try to Europeanize an African World Cup ... that is what African and South African football is all about - noise, excitement, dancing, shouting and enjoyment.'1 Therefore, as a voice of moderation in favour of the accursed instrument, FIFA permitted the vuvuzela to be used in the 2010 WC stadia. And the 2010 FIFA WC went off well. A minimum of crime was reported, and no significant soccer hooliganism. There was even a respectful hush before each national anthem. South Africa scored very high points in the international media for the way in which the WC was presented.

I am of the considered opinion that the vuvuzela must have played a role in pacifying the crowds - possibly by keeping its users occupied. It kept their hands, mouths, lungs and minds busy while at the same time producing noise. There was apparent competition between users to see who could make the most noise. People of all ages, sexes and colours blew the vuvuzela. It even found its way into some royal circles. It must have had some energy-draining effect, energy that could otherwise have swelled into soccer hooliganism or even crime. It seemed to have some binding effect on fans from various countries. If indeed some potentially 'bad' energy, however little, was dissipated in this way, and if indeed it possibly had some unifying, positive, syncretic effect between peoples of different ethnic groups and nationalities, then I would be quite happy to continue living with the vuvuzela, even if it means some degree of hearing loss and living with some noise pollution. After all, Africa is a loud, bright, noisy and sometimes infernal continent.

In South Africa, we have just produced a new antiviral vaginal gel, which seems to be effective; we have produced yet another golf champion; and we have put the vuvuzela in the limelight. Possibly the vuvuzela is not all bad news. As the old Romans said: Ex Africa semper aliquid novis. (There is always something new out of Africa.)